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The specific inhibition of influenza A virus maturation by amantadine: an electron microscopic examination

R W Ruigrok1, E M Hirst, A J Hay

  • 1National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill, London, U.K.

The Journal of General Virology
|January 1, 1991
PubMed

Insights

Amantadine, an antiviral drug, stops influenza A virus (H7N1) release by affecting the M2 protein and haemagglutinin conformation. This prevents virus particle release without altering HA distribution or budding.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Antiviral Drug Research
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Influenza A virus relies on specific proteins for replication and release.
  • Amantadine is a known antiviral agent with a mechanism not fully elucidated for all strains.
  • The Rostock (H7N1) influenza A strain presents a model for studying viral release mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of amantadine on the release of Rostock (H7N1) influenza A virus particles.
  • To elucidate the role of the M2 protein and haemagglutinin (HA) conformation in amantadine's antiviral activity.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized electron microscopy to observe virus particle formation and release.
  • Employed immunogold labelling to track haemagglutinin distribution on infected cell surfaces.
  • Studied amantadine's impact on virus-infected cells at the molecular level.

Main Results:

  • Amantadine specifically inhibited the release of influenza A virus (H7N1) particles.
  • The drug's action appears linked to M2 protein-mediated conversion of HA to its low pH conformation.
  • No alteration in HA cell surface distribution or budding virus particle formation was observed.
  • The precise stage of inhibition (maturation vs. final release) remained undetermined.

Conclusions:

  • Amantadine effectively blocks influenza A virus (H7N1) release, likely by altering HA conformation via the M2 protein.
  • The study highlights a specific mechanism of amantadine's antiviral action.
  • Further research is needed to pinpoint the exact step in virus maturation inhibited by amantadine.

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